Electric illuminating device



Jan. 22, 1935. H. HARAs l,988,555

ELECTRIC ILLUMINATING DE'vIcE Fileapril 18; 1932 s sneets-sheet 1 HANzABuo HARAs.

.BYTTW Jan. 22, 1935. HARASE 1,988,555

ELECTRIC ILLUMINATING DEvIcE w Filed April 18, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ml||||l|IIllII||IIIIHHIIIIIIIllllllllllllllllllllllllIlllllllllllHl"HIIlllllllllllllllllllllIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIllllllllllllllll ;IIIIHIIIIIHIIIIIIIlllIlHlllllllllllllllIHHlll|I|||IllIl|llllIl||IIIIIIIHIIIIIIIHIIllllllllllllIllII|IIllIl|Illllllllllllllllllllllllllllill I Nvs fi'rowz Hmmm/no HAmAsE. fA'r'rljrz I Jan. 22, 1935. H. HARAsE ELECTRIC ILLUHINATING DEVICE Filed April 18, 1932 3 ShoetS-Sheet 3 HANzAuo HAR'A'ss. BYTTY;

- 5 mma with o red 118m Patented Jan". 22, 1935 PATENT, oFFl isasss.

, 1.988.555 4 linlscrmo mlmnwlmc nnvloE nznnlmo niu-zoo, Loo Angelo., calu.

soollooflon Aprilis. 1932, sol-lol No. 805.888

This invention relates toimprovements in electric luminescent and color ray devices, and particularly to devices of this character adapted to the street tramc signal, which is generally for a stop signal, blue light for a going signal, and a yellow light to I show ready and change of signals.

The objects of this invention are to provide such signal devices with greater brillianoy and 1 color en'eol: than usual m eleotrlosigns ona signal devices, and to provide such signal devices that .are well adapted to compel the 'attention of the observer. i

Another object is to provide luminous tubes having different color characteristics, and adapted to be simultaneously or independently energized, to provide an electric bulb in combination with the luminous tubes, adapted to exhibit a different color characteristic, and to be simultan'eollsly or independently energized, and to provide refiecting and refracting'lneans whereby o maximum luminous efl'ectsare attained with a minimum of tubes.

Another object is to provide luminous devices arranged in a manner whereby the containing housing may be limited in outer dimensions and otherwise compacted, to providea housing with a plurality of colilpartments, and to bend the luminous devices whereby a limited number may enter and serve to illuminate the several compartments. l

The drawings exhibit a device embodying the features of this invention, and show modifloations thereof.

In thedrawings: Figure 1 is a plan and sectional view of a signal housing embodying the features of my invention, and taken generally on -line 1--1. of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is asectional elevation of a signal housing showing my invention. Flg. 3 is a cross sectional elevation taken generally on line 3-3, of Flg. 2. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary and detail viewshowing arrangement in modified form, 'of two adjacent luminescent of a slnuous formatlon. Fig. 5 is a fragmentaryl and detail front elevation of two adjacent luminescent tubes, wherein' both tubes are of a sinuous' formatiom` F'ig. 6 is a longitudinal and sec- 60 tional elevation of a modified form of signal ho'ilsing showing the arrangement of luminous tubes therein. Fig. 7 is a plan and sectional view of the signal housing as shown in Fig. 6, 'the section being taken generally on line 7-7, of Fig. 6.

Pig. 8 is a crosectional elevation ofthe signal 6, the section being housing la shown in Fig.

tubes, wherein one tube is straight and the other,`

"1`planeof the inner adapted to illuminate the plates 27 in the walls i taken on line 8-8. of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a perspective and detail view of a modified form of luminous tube. Fig. 10 is a front elevation of a vertical form of signal housing having a portion of the outer wall broken away to show the luminous tubes therein and a reflector. Fig. 11 is a plan and sectional view taken on line 11-11, of Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a detail elevation of a modified form of luminous tubes adapted for the Vertical housing. F'lg. 13 is a front elevation of a vertical ,form of signal housing, having a portion of the outer wall broken away to show the luminous tubing. Fig. 14 is a plan and sectional view taken on line 14 14, of Fig. 13.

Referring in detail to the drawings, my4 invention consists of a housing 21, having opposed .side walls 22, and an 'dividing the housing into compartments 24 and 25. Wall 23 has corrugations 26 which sectionally are of a zigzag formation, and are preferably treated orcoated to produce a maximum refiection of light. Transparent light-refracting plates 27 are mounted in the side walls 22, and have smooth inner surfaces 28 and ribbed outer. su'rfaces 29, which extend parallel with the corrugations 26, of inner refiecting wall 23. p

For a luminous eifect, I provide a luminous tube 30, adapted to a certain color characteristic, and .extending in the initial compartment 24, and spaced apart from the reflecting wall 23, and from the lightrefracting plates 27, and disposed in parallel relation to the corrugations 26 and ribs 29. The tube 30 is bent to pass around the end of wall 23 and into compartment 25, where it extends in spaced apart position from the wall 23 and plate 27 in the outer wall. A similar lllminous tube 31 coextends with tube 30, and has a different color characteristic. Tube 31 is adjacent to tubeV 30, and lies in the same horizontal plane relatively, so that, when viewed frontwise, the tubes will apparently coincide. The tubes 30 and 31 are adapted to be energized independently or conjointly as may be ,'.zdeslred An electric bulb 32 is disposed in the reflecting wall 23, and is of bothcompartments. Bulb 32 is adapted for a vdifferent color characteristic, and to' be independently or conjointly energized relative to tubes 30 and 31. Sockets 33, for tubes 30 and 31', are positioned in one compartment only.

In the modified form shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, the housing 34, has a horizontal partition wall 35, and partition walls 36, dividing the housing into four, compartments. The upper inner reflecting wall 23,

viewed by'the observer its outer wall 46,

2 compartments 37, have therein, the luminous tube 38, having a certain color charagteristic, which maybe viewed by the observer from both sides of the device. The lower compartments 39 have therein the luminous tube 40, of a different color characteristic. and which may be from both sides of the device. These tubes are adapted to be energized independently and alternately when the device is operated as a trafilc signal. The partition walls 36 are curved, and have longitudinal ribs 41. This device has light-refracting plates 42, each disposed in the outer side of a compartment, and has plain transparent plates 43, each covering a light-refracting plate. This device has cover and roof elements 44 and 45, serving to keep a portion of the sun rays from entering the device.

In the modified form of the device shown in Figs. 10 and 11, the housing has a vertlcal outer wall 46, of transparent material, and having a Vertical 'ribbed surface 47. This device has a top member 48 and a base 49, and has within the luminous tube 50, `of a certain color characteristic, and tube 51 of a different color characteristic. The inner reflecing wall 52 extends vertically and between the several luminous tubes. At the bottom 'of the device, and upon the base, I mount an relectric bulb 53, of a different color characteristic. The

tubes vand bulb are alapted to be energized independently and alternately. o

In the modified form shown in Figs. 13 and 14, the housing has a Vertical outer wall 54, having 'hemispherical projections 55, on its outerV surface.

A luminous tube 56 has a certain color characteristic, and luminous tube 57 has a different -color' characteristic. An electric bulb 58 is disposed at the top of the device, and above the partition walls 59.

In the devices as shown, the luminous tubes have substantially straight portions. In Fig. 4, it may be seen that the tube 60 is straight, and of a certain color characteristic, while tube 61 is' sinuous in formation and of a different color characteristic. The provision of sinuous tubes serves to give more illumination to the light refracting walls. In Fig. 5, tubes 62 and 63 are both of sinuous formation. In Fig. 9, the tube 64 has straight portions 65 for the upper compartments of a signal device, and has sinuous portions 66, for lower compartments of a signal device. -In Fig. 12, vertical tubes are shown of which the tube''l is of straight formation, and tube 68 of sinuous formatlon.

The several modiflcations of this device are adapted to be used in the day time, as well as by night. The inner partition walls therefore serve to prevent sun rays which enter one compartment, from passing into the opposite compartment, and therefore prevent interference with the illumination of the light-refracting plates when theywould otherwise be between the sun and the observer.

A common feature of the several modiflcations of thisdevice is the provision of the inner wall for the purposes intend Another4 common feature is the arrangement of the luminous tubes relative to the inner wall tric bulb in combination with the luminous tubes.

It is to be understood that the luminous tubes. and the electric bulbs'in each case, may be coniointly or independently illuminated, and alternately with one another for signaling and illuminating purposes, and therefore switches and energizing means areinot shown. w

Roof and cover elements 43, 44 and 45, serve t'o prevent a heavy accumulation of dust on adjacent light-refracting plates.

What is claimed' is:

In an illuminating device, a housing, two opposed side walls for the housing, an inner reilecting wall in spaced relation to the opposed side walls and formlnz two compartments, the inner wall having horizontal corrusations, light-refracting plates disposed in the opposed side walls, luminous gaseous discharge tubes coextending in one compartment and in spaced relation to the inner wall, each tube passins aroun`d the refiecting wall at one end thereof.

and the outer liizht-- -refracting plates, and the provision of an elecand coextending in the opposite compartment in spaced relation to the inner wall, said tubes disposed in parallel relation to the corrugations of the inner wall, each of said tubes adapted'to 

